Daylight in the workplace as a hygiene factor

daylight in the workplace

daylight in the workplace

Daylight in the workplace promotes the health and performance of employees. Scientific studies have shown a number of advantages for the physical and mental well-being: control of day and night rhythm, strengthening it immune system, release of serotonin, vitamin A and D synthesis, protection of the eyes, and others. In technical terms, the boundary conditions at the workplace are called hygiene factors. Reason enough to become familiar with the most important parameters for the lighting of work.
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After the removal of the mobile station health improved

mobile phone base station

health problems disappeared after dismantling of a mobile phone base station

The German journal “Environmental Medicine Society” published in issue 12/2014 a mobile study of a Japanese research team. 107 residents of a skyscraper in Okinawa participated in 2009 in a clinical study in conjunction with a questionnaire. The response rate to the questionnaire was 88%.
Background: In the eight-storey high-rise building was attached in 1998 a mobile antenna in the range of 800 MHz. In March 2008, two additional transmission facilities were put into operation. They were broadcasting in the range of two GHz. The first health examination was carried out in January 2009, i.e. eleven months after the start of broadcasting in the 2-GHz-conditioning and eleven years after the start of the 800-MHz antenna. The second study was conducted in November 2009. At this time, both systems were already five months and nine months no longer in operation.
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Long period formaldehyde emission

Formaldehyd indoor pollutionA family from the Bavarian Forest (Germany) has made unpleasant experiences with the longevity of formaldehyde. Two years ago they bought a prefabricated house built in 1975. Initially, the problem did not show up. In the summer was always well ventilated and health problems did not exist. During the winter period dawned residents that something was wrong. The clothes had a strange smell and Ms. Sennerhans plagued a lengthy cold. The analysis of indoor air finally brought certainty: the formaldehyde content in two rooms was above average. Moreover, found the analytical laboratory wood preservatives in house dust.
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Avoid thick air in classrooms

CO2-level in classrooms

CO2-level in classrooms is often too high

In assessing the indoor climate in classrooms, the Department of Environmental Protection Nuremberg/Germany can truly have a say. The municipal employees had carried out from 2012 to 2013 series of measurements in different school categories and also analyzed the conditions. The focus was on the carbon dioxide (CO2) in room air compared to the outside air. The relative humidity and room temperature were recorded in addition to the CO2 content with data loggers. In a nutshell, the result shows the following: indoor air quality, which is commonly found in classrooms is, at least hygienic striking. In many cases it is to be regarded as unacceptable.
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The inner ear is slowly recovering from low frequency sound

low-frequency-soundThe negative effect of infrasound on human health is controversial in the permitting of industrial installations. The scientific evidence is thin so far. Researchers at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich (LMU) could now prove that the inner ear needs a relatively long time to recover from exposure to low-frequency sound. “The recovery time is longer than the duration of the load,” says researcher Dr. Drexl of the Department of Neurobiology at the LMU. Continue reading

Sitting in a magnetic field

mousepad-wireless-charger

computer mouse on a power mat

Wireless power chargers produce relatively high magnetic fields in the near field. The German building biologists Virnich / Moldan investigated in late 2009 mousepads that supplied the overlying computer mouse with electricity. The mouse pad itself was connected by cable and a USB stick to the computer. The measured value was more than 20 micro Tesla (μT) at a distance of five centimeters. For health risk assessment is still required an additional information: while the mains frequency is 50 Hz current of our house, “worked” the mouse pad with a fundamental frequency of 122.7 kHz. In addition, the power generated mat harmonics up to 10 MHz. Continue reading

Wind turbines interfere IMS infrasound stations

infrasound from wind turbines

infraschall from wind turbines

“The inaudible noise from wind turbines” is a very interesting study of the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), headquartered in Hanover. It examines how infrasound from wind turbines may disrupt sensitive stations. The BGR operates inter alia the infrasound station I27DE in the Bavarian Forest, which is part of the International Monitoring System (IMS) to monitor compliance with the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. With a series of measurements, the Institute wanted to clarify what distance wind turbines should have in order not to disturb the infrasound monitoring system therefore. As a by-product, the scientists developed models of required distances from wind turbines to residential areas. Continue reading

Manipulative spraying of fragrances in the interior

manipulative spraying of fragrances in the interior

spraying of fragrances poses trouble

The use of fragrances in cosmetics, detergents and cleaners has long been known. The conscious and manipulative spraying of fragrances in the interior, however, is more and more fashionable. The fragrance industry has evolved in recent years into a major economic factor. The global turnover is estimated at 18 billion dollars. In Germany, the German Association of the fragrance manufacturer represents the interests of its members. Approx. 3,000 different chemical fragrances are known. Thirty of them are produced in Europe in quantities greater than 1,000 tons per year. For more 750 perfumes annual production is estimated to be longer one ton. In contrast, the number of at least half a million perfume allergy sufferers in Germany, who have suffered greatly from the scenting. Acquired sensitization can not be cured medically. Continue reading

Deadly threat – Carbon monoxide formation in the pellet storage room

deadly threat in the pellet-storage-room

CO could arise

(Berlin) The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Germany (BfR) warns of a deadly threat in homes. Both the storage of wood pellets and wood chips, the highly toxic carbon monoxide may form. This is due to auto-oxidation processes in certain wood components that are triggered during the preparation of the wood by crushing, heating and drying. From unsaturated fatty acids, in addition to carbon monoxide (CO) are formed various aldehydes. CO is particularly insidious because it is colorless and odorless. At risk are not only the residents but also the maintenance personnel of heating systems. BfR deaths have been reported by people who had been in a pellet storage room. Continue reading

Hormone cocktails in toys and cosmetics

edc in plastic products

edc in plastic products

The Confederation of the Earth Germany (BUND) vehemently opposed hormonally active substances in plastic utensils and Cosmetics. In cooperation with other European organizations (NGOs), the German environmental organization wants to influence politics and industry to ban these hormone cocktails. BUND made attention early in 2010 on phthalates as plasticizers in child’s toys and bisphenol A in pacifiers and bottles. Currently the network is considered the attention of hormonally active chemicals in cosmetic products in the broader sense. Continue reading